As BWW previously reported, The View hosts Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd's will depart the long-running chatfest following the current season.

Today's show marked the first live broadcast since news of the Exit was announced. Host Whoopi Goldberg started off the show by quipping that it was time to discuss the "giant neon pink gorilla" in the room.

McCarthy, who only joined the show last September, commented, "After much consideration, I've taken a new job that will allow me to do what I do best, which is talk without having to interrupt anyone. She continued, "I will be announcing it in the next few weeks and I couldn't be more grateful. Stay tuned, even if it does compete with The View."

Shepherd explained that while her plans to leave the show were in the works for a while, she chose not to reveal them because she didn't want to take the spotlight off of departing View creator and co-host Barbara Walters. She explained her departure by noting, "Seven in The Bible is the number of God's completion. And I've been here seven years and my time at The View is complete. "

Like McCarthy, Shepherd also teased that she had "exciting news" that she would soo announce. She closed her remarks by tearfully commenting, "I love the cast and crew who took me in and made me feel like this is my family. I love you."